Bird breeding success at Bristol Zoo Project

Another year, another double conservation success for Bristol Zoological Society’s bird team.

Two of the world’s rarest bird species, a pair of Mauritian pink pigeon, now classed as Vulnerable, and a pair of Endangered Visayan tarictic hornbill, have bred at Bristol Zoo Project.

The male hornbill chick, which hatched in May, has now fledged, enabling its mother to leave the nest box and resume normal activities. During the first two months of the new hatchling’s life, the mother must remain with them in the nest box relying on the father to carry protein-rich food to feed her and the chick.

The Visayan hornbill is found in rainforests of the Western Visayas region, which includes the islands of Panay, Negros, Cebu and Guimaras, in the Philippines. It is thought there are only 1,800 individuals left in the wild, a very small, severely fragmented population that is declining rapidly due to lowland deforestation and hunting. Alongside the Society’s breeding work at Bristol Zoo Project, they are working with local partners, as part of a Darwin Initiative project, to monitor the status of this species in Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park, one of the last remaining areas of lowland primary forest in the Visayan region. In partnership with local NGO, PhilinCon, Bristol Zoological Society carry out biodiversity surveys and regularly patrol the area to identify any illegal activities such as hunting and harvesting of agarwood.

Mauritian pink pigeon was a Critically Endangered species in 2000 with only 300 mature individuals remaining in the wild at that time. Thanks to conservation efforts, the species was downlisted to Endangered in 2018 and now remains classified as Vulnerable with less than 1,000 existing in the wild. Indigenous to Mauritius, and the only surviving pigeon native to the Mascarene Islands, the species continues to face threats due to habitat degradation, non-native predators and wildlife diseases. Dominating invasive plant species also make it hard for pink pigeons to find suitable nesting sites and food sources.

Sheldon Wetton, Curator of Birds at Bristol Zoological Society, said: “This breeding season has been a great success and is a true testament to the efforts of our animal team, who care for these birds.

“These new hatchlings are crucial to the future of their species and are perfect ambassadors in our step towards successful conservation and preservation of wildlife all over the world.

“This is a huge win for the team and species as a whole, as they safeguard the future of these birds, demonstrating how zoos and other conservation organisations can work together to save the most threatened of species.”

Bristol Zoological Society has worked with Mauritian pink pigeon for several years and even with their conservation status success, the species continues to be bred at Bristol Zoo Project to maintain a sustainable population, which is used to bolster the wild population.

The Society is also part of collaborative breeding programmes within the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) to continue maintaining sustainable populations.

The new Mauritian pink pigeon is four weeks old and fledged last week. These new arrivals can be seen in the aviaries within the walled garden at Bristol Zoo Project.